“Presidency Reveals Why Nigeria’s Fight Against Bandits Isn’t Quick Or Easy”

The presidency has explained why the Nigerian military has been unable to swiftly tackle the country’s longstanding insecurity, emphasizing that combating bandits and terrorists is fundamentally different from responding to conventional military threats.

According to Ireporter Online, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ programme on Monday. Onanuga noted that bandits and terrorists often use innocent civilians as shields, which complicates military operations.

He explained that the military must exercise extreme caution to avoid harming hostages, adding that the approach required to combat these groups differs significantly from confronting a conventional army. “The internal conflict is more of a guerrilla war. People may not fully grasp what the military is dealing with,” he said.

Onanuga contrasted the situation in Nigeria with the recent military response to the attempted coup in the Benin Republic, where attackers targeted a military base and coordinated their actions precisely. In Nigeria, he said, “Bandits and terrorists kidnap soft targets and use them as collateral. You cannot bomb them recklessly.”

He further noted that even powerful nations like the United States faced difficulties confronting guerrilla forces in Afghanistan, underscoring the challenges Nigeria faces. Despite this, Onanuga expressed confidence that the government is determined to find solutions that will end banditry and terrorism in a relatively short time.